Objective:To investigate the effect of Dan Sen on gastric mucosal Na +-K +-ATPase activity and gastric transmucosal potential difference in rats during severe intraperitoneal infection.Methods:The intraperitoneally infected rat model was established by cecal ligation and puncture(CLP).Assay of Na +-K +-ATPase activity in gastric mucosal tissue was conducted by biochemistry method.The electric-physiological recorder meter was used to measure gastric mucosal potential difference.Results:The activity of Na +-K +-ATPase markedly decreased in infected group at 3h after perforation

compared with the control group ( P <0.05).There was a minimum of Na +-K +-ATPase activity at 12h post-perforation in infected group ( P <0.01)

only about 48.5% of the control group.At 12h and 24h post-perforation

Na +-K +-ATPase activity of Dan Sen group was significantly raised much more than that of infection group ( P<0.05

P <0.05).Gastric transmucosal potential difference (GTPD) of infected group decreased significantly compared with the control group ( P <0.05) at 6h after perforation

and rapidly dropped to the lowest at 12h post-perforation ( P <0.01).At 12h and 24h after perforation

GTPD was lower in infected group than that not only in the control group ( P <0.05

P <0.05)

but also in Dan Sen group ( P <0.05).Conclusion:The decrease of Na +-K +-ATPase activity might play an important role in gastric mucosal barrier damage following severe abdominal infection induced by CLP.And the application of Dan Sen in earlier period could prevent the occurrence of stress ulcer.